Amplifier choices

[Sean M.]

I have a system consisting of an ayre ax7 amp, ayre cx cdplayer and a Sony HAP Z1ES. Im looking for a new amplifier since the Ayre ax7 is broken and will be expensive to repair. I really just want a 2 channel amp with 80-100 watts per channel. My quandary is that I don't see why I need an amp with a dac. The cx7 and the Hap z1es have dacs that I don't think need to run through a dac in an integrated amp. Am I missing something? If I'm not bluetoothing and only plan on listening to cd's or Flac files, do I need an amp with a dac?

I'd like something simple under $1,000 that sounds good and is reliable. Oh, I am also drive a pair of Vandersteen 1c's.

 

[DanielT]

I have a system consisting of an ayre ax7 amp, ayre cx cdplayer and a Sony HAP Z1ES. Im looking for a new amplifier since the Ayre ax7 is broken and will be expensive to repair. I really just want a 2 channel amp with 80-100 watts per channel. My quandary is that I don't see why I need an amp with a dac. The cx7 and the Hap z1es have dacs that I don't think need to run through a dac in an integrated amp. Am I missing something? If I'm not bluetoothing and only plan on listening to cd's or Flac files, do I need an amp with a dac?

I'd like something simple under $1,000 that sounds good and is reliable. Oh, I am also drive a pair of Vandersteen 1c's.

Hello and welcome to ASR.

Your speakers seem to have 87 dB sensitivity, so relatively easy to power up. No tough loads, with their Impedance reaches a minimum of 6.14 ohms at 9.6 kHz...

Vandersteen Audio 1C Speaker System HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures: Vandersteen Audio 1C Speaker System L/R Sensitivity: 87 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Center Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Surround Sensitivity: 85 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz

www.soundandvision.com

So in itself not difficult to suggest a good amp. There are many good ones with enough power to satisfy you and your speakers. The question is more what features you are looking for?

You were thinking of using your ayre cx cdplayer and a Sony HAP Z1ES. With that you need two inputs. Either an integrated amplifier with two inputs or a pre - power amp combination.

What other features do you want? Remote control?
Does size and or appearance/looks of the amp matter to you?

 

[DVDdoug]

You ONLY need a DAC for DIGITAL sources like HDMI or S/PDIF from a TV, or DVD/Blu-Ray player, etc.

You generally get a LOT more for your money with a receiver or AVR than with an integrated amp or separates. My basic Sony 5.1 channel AVR was only around $300 USD and I'm happy with it. I think it's 80W x 5 channels. (It doesn't have room correction, which would be nice, but I don't have any desire for more channels.)

 

[Sean M.]

I'm not familiar with AVR's but as I take a look it seems more than I need. Now I'm considering a Yamaha 701 or 801 and very seriously considering the Cambridge Cxa81. All integrated amps. The DAC part is what has me scratching my head. I don't understand why I would take a signal from the HAP z1es to the Ayre cx7 which both have quality days and run them through another dac in the amp. I was initially considering a power amp to avoid this, but they don't seem to have volume controls and generally seem to need a pre amp.....what am I missing?

 

[Chrispy]

Too bad you got sucked into Ayre gear, largely not impressive (and in some cases just misleading). What features/power do you want from an integrated amp like the one that broke?

 

[Sean M.]

as far as features, I'm not sure. with the ayre it was just an on/off and a volume and it sounded decent. I'm really looking for a competent receiver that handle digital files and cd's. I'm not concerned with phono atm.

 

[Chrispy]

as far as features, I'm not sure. with the ayre it was just an on/off and a volume and it sounded decent. I'm really looking for a competent receiver that handle digital files and cd's. I'm not concerned with phono atm.

Huge amount of choice. Define by connectivity, feature set, power, and budget perhaps.

 

[Sean M.]

Ok, I'd like XLR capability, remote, 80-100 Watts per channel. budget is around $1,000

 

[Sean M.]

Oh, and if its an integrated amp with a DAC, is there a way to bypass the dac in the amp and just amplify the signal from the CD player or the music file player. I see buttons on the Yamaha's that sat direct and pure direct...is that what I need?

 

[Chrispy]

Ok, I'd like XLR capability, remote, 80-100 Watts per channel. budget is around $1,000

Oh, and if its an integrated amp with a DAC, is there a way to bypass the dac in the amp and just amplify the signal from the CD player or the music file player. I see buttons on the Yamaha's that sat direct and pure direct...is that what I need?

What is your source and distance from integrated amp where xlr makes a difference?

80-100wpc why particularly?

Why would dac in cd player vs integrated amp mean much?

 

[Sean M.]

No particular reason for the WPC, just seemed reasonable to me for an amp. don't really understand the XLR distance relationship, I was told the XLR connections are cleaner. Again on the dac issue, I just don't see why I need an amp with a DAC if my components have good dacs (wouldn't I just want to amplify the component signal rather than run it thru a dac in the amp?) apologize for my ignorance here....

 

[Chrispy]

No particular reason for the WPC, just seemed reasonable to me for an amp. don't really understand the XLR distance relationship, I was told the XLR connections are cleaner. Again on the dac issue, I just don't see why I need an amp with a DAC if my components have good dacs (wouldn't I just want to amplify the component signal rather than run it thru a dac in the amp?) apologize for my ignorance here....

Power needed hard to comment on as you don't mention speakers or distance from speakers...

XLR has most advantage over RCA type connections in longer distances...a few feet an RCA is likely just fine....really long distances from pre-amp to powered speakers maybe XLR would be better (or maybe long distance from pre-amp to amp which would be somewhat weird).

Dacs are largely not even a consideration for many years, they simply work fine for the most part but many add attributes to a dac that don't exist.

 

[Sean M.]

speakers are Vandersteen 1c and distance is from components is not an issue so I guess I don't need XLR which is fine. 6 ft. Vandersteen are rated at 20-100 wpc.

 

[Chrispy]

speakers are Vandersteen 1c and distance is from components is not an issue so I guess I don't need XLR which is fine. 6 ft. Vandersteen are rated at 20-100 wpc.

Speakers don't matter as to xlr connections. You just need adequate wire gauge for your distance of amp from speakers, and at 6ft even 18awg would be fine....

 

[Sean M.]

Understood, I meant that for XLR my components are in a rack (so technically no need for xls). I have a set of audio quest speaker cables.

 

[Chrispy]

Understood, I meant that for XLR my components are in a rack (so technically no need for xls). I have a set of audio quest speaker cables.

Audioquest is better known as Fraudioquest. Definitely no advantage there, just a waste of money. If your components are in a rack in close proximity unlikely xlr/balanced connections make any significant differences (let alone if your gear is actually balanced).

 

[Sean M.]

Thanks, very enlightening and appreciated. Any suggestions on a budget amp?

 

[JSmith]

The cx7 and the Hap z1es have dacs that I don't think need to run through a dac in an integrated amp. Am I missing something?

The Sony streamer has volume control, so can go straight into a power amp via the analog outs, RCA/XLR. The CD player analog out will need some form of volume control however, as the Sony has no ADC.


JSmith

 

[Chrispy]

Thanks, very enlightening and appreciated. Any suggestions on a budget amp?

Need a compilation of gear you want to use it as switching center and particular speakers, distances from, spl levels, etc. Budget means different things for those features....

 

[Mart68]

I'm not familiar with AVR's but as I take a look it seems more than I need. Now I'm considering a Yamaha 701 or 801 and very seriously considering the Cambridge Cxa81. All integrated amps. The DAC part is what has me scratching my head. I don't understand why I would take a signal from the HAP z1es to the Ayre cx7 which both have quality days and run them through another dac in the amp. I was initially considering a power amp to avoid this, but they don't seem to have volume controls and generally seem to need a pre amp.....what am I missing?

With an amp that has a DAC built in you have two options when connecting a digital source that also has a DAC, such as a CD player.

1) connect using digital cable from the digital output of the player into the digital input in the amp. The DAC in the amp will do the conversion from digital to analogue.

2) connect using RCA or XLR cables from the analogue output of your digital source to the analogue input on the amplifier. In this case the DAC in your source component does the conversion and the DAC in the amplifier is bypassed and is not used.

Both methods are highly likely to give the exact same sound.

Yamaha is a good choice. Look good, competent measured performance, usually highly reliable, but there are plenty of options cheaper and more expensive. Since your loudspeakers are not a tough load almost anything will work fine. Buy on price, features, appearance.